Maintaining the property database throughout the year

You should maintain a comprehensive property database in order to effectively undertake your registration duties, and take steps to maintain it throughout the year. 

You should inspect other local authority records to help identify:

• new residential properties
• properties that have undergone a change of use
• empty properties
• properties which no longer exist
• properties that are yet to be built

You may also use canvass staff and poll card delivery staff, where poll cards are hand delivered, to seek out properties not on the current database, and correct any errors identified. Where you use staff for this purpose, ensure they receive clear instructions about recording and reporting issues they identify.